Oregano and cinnamon oils have
powerful antifungal properties, even against Candida-type fungi resistant to prescription drugs, according to Brazilian research from Universidade Federal. A groundbreaking study from the Slovak University of Technology, in Slovakia, even suggests that rosemary oil can kill cancer cells. These are all scents that can be the foundations of do-it-yourself perfumes.
Customized Blends “It’s fun to experiment with organic essential oils and create that unique blend that becomes a personal signa- ture,” says Charlynn Avery, an aroma- therapist with Aura Cacia, in Norway, Iowa. She explains that essential oils have three basic “notes” and blending them correctly will result in a fragrance suited to last throughout the day. “The base note is heavier and lasts
the longest. Patchouli, vetiver, sandal- wood, cedarwood and jasmine hang around longer in the atmosphere and on the wearer,” she explains. Blending the base with a slightly lighter middle note like lavender, rosemary or clary sage and a light and short-lasting top note like orange, lime or peppermint will create a complex and pleasing blend. “That’s the beauty of the art of it,”
says Avery. “You can create synergistic blends that harmonize and complement the attributes of each to such an extent that you may not be able to detect the scents of the individual oils.” There are no hard and fast rules, but our experts offer a few guidelines
for creating our own unique blends that will be well-received as holiday gifts. Use a base of oil like jojoba or
sweet almond to create a perfumed oil. Note that oils undiluted by a carrier can burn the skin. For oil-based blends, use a ratio of 50 drops of bottom note oil, 30 drops of a middle note and 20 drops of a top note in two ounces of carrier oil. Another option is to use an alcohol base of either isopropyl rubbing alcohol or 85-proof vodka to make a spray per- fume; the alcohol will evaporate quickly. Alcohol-based blends generally last longer, especially with fragile citrus oils. A usual ratio is 10 to 20 drops of essential oil per ounce of alco- hol-based carrier.
Oil-based blends are ready to use
almost immediately. Alcohol-based blends should age a week or two at least and will become more strongly scented in time. Store fragrances in bottles in a dark, cool place. Bottles with tiny roll- on caps are commercially available. “It’s very much trial and error to ar-
rive at a preferred scent, so be creative and keep careful notes of experiments and improve on them as you gain expe- rience,” counsels Avery. “If you crinkle your nose at patchouli, you probably won’t like an oil blend with it, either. Choose scents you like.”
Kathleen Barnes is author of numerous natural health books including Food Is Medicine. Connect at Kathleen
Barnes.com.
The 1-2-3s of Blending Oils
Base Notes sandalwood jasmine myrrh vetiver
patchouli cedarwood
Middle Notes lavender bergamot geranium rosemary tea tree
clary sage
Top Notes orange lemon
grapefruit eucalyptus lime
peppermint
A general ratio of 50 percent base note oils to 30 percent middle notes and 20 percent top notes is recommended.
Source: courtesy of
AuraCacia.com natural awakenings December 2015 19
GIFT BLEND FOR MEN
Western cultures value “manly” Earth scents like sandalwood and cedar- wood, while in other cultures, flow- ery scents are acceptable for men. An appealing woodsy blend for an American male blends cedarwood, clary sage and lime.
MEB-PrintAd-Marrák 2-outlines.pdf 1 11
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
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